Nurse Leaders: It’s Time to Take on the Role of Data Detective

Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. While the director of nursing services (DNS) and other nurse leaders should keep residents at the heart of every decision, data should provide the framework for those decisions to help residents achieve the best possible quality of care …

CMS Healthcare Provider Guidance: Emergency Preparedness Frequent Citations

Emergency Preparedness for Every Emergency Effective Health Care Provider Emergency Planning Sound, timely planning provides the foundation for effective emergency management. The response to an emergency can impact an entire community and can involve numerous medical and public health entities, including health care provider systems, public health departments, emergency medical services, …

PBJ Technical Information Call Minutes with Q&As- February 26, 2026

CMS hosted an PBJ Technical informational Call for Software Vendors and Developers on Thursday, February 26, 2026. Please see the attached minutes. Downloads PBJ Tech Call Minutes 02/26/2026 https://qtso.cms.gov/news-and-updates/pbj-technical-information-call-minutes-qas-february-26-2026

PBJ Data Specifications (Version 4.10.0) Implementation Required by April 1, 2026

The NEW FileSpecVersion 4.10.0 was originally scheduled to be effective on March 22, 2026.  The NEW effective date is April 1, 2026. If you submit files using fileSpecVersion 4.10.0 before April 1st, the file will be rejected. Manual entry of staffing hours will continue to allow up to a maximum …

Defensive Documentation: Protecting Residents, Protecting Care

Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. In today’s regulatory environment, accurate and timely nursing home documentation is more than dutifully recounting what occurred to a resident on a given day. Rather it is a legal record that ideally describes resident care, assures regulatory compliance, …

Wound Rounds Template

Interdisciplinary wound rounds evaluate the effectiveness, appropriateness, and compliance of wound management. This Wound Rounds Template supports interdisciplinary review, ensures treatments are consistent with physician orders, facility policy, and current standards of practice. It also identifies opportunities for timely intervention to promote wound healing, prevent complications, and reduce the risk …

LTCSP Survey Resources: Surveyor Tools Updated

This ZIP file contains resources for surveyors conducting initial surveys under the Long-term Care Survey Process (LTCSP). It is a one-stop shop containing a multitude of reference materials that are provided to the surveyors going into facilities, including, for example, a document detailing their principles of documentation, a document showing …

TIP: CMS Adds Falls to Special Focus Facility Selection Criteria

In late January, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) revised the memo QSO-23-01-NH, changing the selection criteria for the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program from staffing to falls. In the memo, CMS noted: CMS is revising the focus area for selection to emphasize the prevalence of falls among …

Survey Readiness: Critical Element Pathways, Observations, Reviews, and Policy Calendar Tool

Surveyors use critical element pathways (CEPs) to work through the steps of their investigation and to determine compliance with several federal regulations. In addition to CEPs, other tools including observational guides are also used to direct the surveyors’ review of the facility. These same tools are available for facility leaders …